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EDITOR ’ S LETTER
I ’ ll Be Back ...
Hello , my name is Sean and I have only run once in the last month … Not exactly something the editor of a running magazine is supposed to admit to publicly , but that ’ s been the sorry state of my running since I wrote my last Ed ’ s Letter . That solitary run was at the Umhlanga parkrun , when I was in KZN to do work at the Durban City Marathon and SA Marathon Champs . It was a marvellous run , in typically awesome KZN weather , with fresh sea air and stunning beach views , along with the company of running colleagues and followed by a cooling swim … but that ’ s it . That ’ s all I managed . In a month !
You see , first I tweaked my lower back while hunting mosquitoes . I kid you not … I was standing on my bed to get closer to an offending bloodsucker on the roof , zapped it with the can of Doom and fist-pumped the air in victory , but when I stepped off the bed again , I managed to twist my back at just the wrong angle and strained the lower back muscles . ( Note to self , more core exercises needed !)
Just as I was getting over that , the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon rolled around , which meant a whole week of working at the Expo , being up before sunrise to drive through peak traffic to be at the Expo , getting home again after dark , and then on race day itself I was on the route doing vibe commentary … Lots of fun , great hanging out with so many running friends , but I picked up a sniffle , and that was then compounded by standing outside in the cold morning air while doing vibe point commentary for the PinkDrive .
Now I do not suffer from ‘ Man-flu Syndrome ,’ so I don ’ t think I ’ m dying when I have a mere cold or bout of flu , but I do believe in first getting healthy before taking to the roads and trails again , so that meant no running for another week . But then I worked another early morning event in cold , windy conditions , and the raspy cough came back in full force . So , another week without running , and here I sit , feeling frustrated , lethargic and unfit . I really want to go for a run . Soon !
Now you may be asking why I am telling you this ... Simple , really , because I know I am not the only one who is unable to run right now . Some of you may be ill as well , especially in the last month of build-up to the Comrades Marathon , when bodies are perhaps a bit run down and more susceptible to catching a bug . Some of you may have picked up an injury – hopefully not from mozzie hunting ! – and some may have family or work commitments that are keeping you from running . There may also be some of you struggling with a lack of motivation , or direction , in your running .
Whatever the reason for you not running , I hope that picking up this magazine full of inspirational stories will help you get back to running ( or riding ). If you ’ re anything like me , you will read these stories and will want to get out there yourself . So lace ‘ em up !
Sean Falconer
The Ed after his Umhlang parkrun , with colleagues Agne , Carey , Marnus and Michael
Follow me on Twitter : @ sean _ falconer Follow the mag as well : @ modern _ athlete
PUBLISHERS Mike Bray & Craig Van der Westhuizen DIVISIONAL HEAD Richard Laskey richard @ modernathlete . co . za CONTENT MANAGER Roxanne Martin roxanne @ modernathlete . co . za
EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR Sean Falconer seanf @ modernathlete . co . za RACE EDITOR Kyle Deeley kyle @ moderncyclist . co . za DESIGNER Caroline Collings caroline . collings @ gmail . com
ADVERTISING SALES Richard Laskey 083 342 8200 / richard @ modernathlete . co . za Celia Lightley 076 490 6652 / celia @ modernathlete . co . za
MARKETING MANAGER Aurelia Masino Aurelia @ modernathlete . co . za
SUBSCRIPTIONS & DISTRIBUTION info @ modernathlete . co . za
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Regulars : Christine Peters , Delaine Cools ( Comrades ), Derick Marcisz , Ernest Hobbs , Jeannie Jordaan , Kyle Deeley , Nonkululeko Mdlalose ( Comrades ), Norrie Williamson , PJ Moses , Ray Orchison , Reggie Hufkie , René Kalmer , Roxanne Martin , Sean Falconer , The Gentleman Racer , Tom Cottrell Guest Writers : Andries Bezuidenhout , Boitumelo Mogapi , Caroline Collings , Fabio De Dominicis , Frankie Hunt , Helen Webb , Mary Mutlanyane , Nico van der Walt , Rachel Pienaar , Rayno Lourens , Rudolf van Rensburg , Sam Stokesberry
COVER IMAGE Jetline Action Photo
IMAGES Photo Agencies & Professional photographers : Fotolia , Graham Topfoto , Jetline Action Photo , Mark Sampson / Thribe , Reg Caldecott , Tobias Ginsberg , Van Zyl Naude Non-professional photographers : Caroline Collings , Charmaine van Rooyen , Jeannie Jordaan , Moegsien Ebrahim , Roxanne Martin , Sean Falconer Courtesy : Amanda De Beer , Amoija Events , Bronwen Thomas , Colleen McNally , Comrades Marathon Association , DTT athletes , Eric McLaren , Lisa Selwood , Long Tom Toboggan , Mary Mutlanyane , Pierre Renshaw , PJ Moses , René Kalmer , Richard Wright , Sarah Hill , Sibs Mashimane , Stacey Holland , Stephen Masekela , Steve Saunders , Stillwater Events , The Gentleman Racer , Tomjachu Bush Resort , Wendy Case and various Race Organisers , Athletes & PR companies
FIND US TELEPHONE 011 028 0234 E-MAIL info @ modernathlete . co . za PHYSICAL ADDRESS Cnr Koornhof & Essex Road , Meadowdale Ext 1 , Germiston WEB www . modernathlete . co . za FACEBOOK www . facebook . com / modernathletemag TWITTER @ modern _ athlete
Modern Athlete is accredited by the ABC with an average monthly circulation of 58,175 ( Oct - Dec 2016 )
Image : Courtesy Sean Falconer
WINNERS ’ CORNER
Congratulations to all the winners of our April edition competitions .
HAVE YOUR SAY Win adidas Supernova Glide Boost running shoes for the winning letter Kim Walker , Cape Town
ATHLETES IN ACTION Win New Balance Fresh Foam trail running shoes for the winning photo Tim King , Cape Town
6 ISSUE 94 MAY 2017 / www . modernathlete . co . za